National Guard moves out of Ricks Armory

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) – A familiar landmark in Little Rock is losing its long-running tenant. The Arkansas National Guard is moving out of Ricks Armory on West 8th street.

The 39th infantry brigade is moving into temporary quarters at Camp Robinson and expects to move there permanently soon. The 56-year-old building had weather damage earlier this summer; that made the guard unit start to move out a little sooner.

"The thing is we're not leaving the community," said Lt. Col. May Snead. "We're a part of the community. We live here. We're just going up the road to Camp Robinson, so not too far away, but we're happy to be good neighbors."

There is a plan in place for UAMS to move into the old armory after the move-out is complete. That would bring the building full-circle as it started as a home for an evac-hospital in 1961.